Menu control device

Abstract

A menu control device includes a casing and a roller module. The roller module is installed in the casing. The roller module includes a base, an elastic supporting arm, a scroll wheel, an encoder, a switch element and a microprocessor. The elastic supporting arm is connected with the base. The scroll wheel is pivotally coupled to the elastic supporting arm. The encoder is located beside the scroll wheel. The encoder generates an encoding signal in response to the rotation of the scroll wheel. When an external pressing force is applied to the scroll wheel, the elastic supporting arm is swung toward the switch element, and the switch element is triggered to generate a switching signal. The microprocessor performs an item browsing operation on a menu according to the encoding signal. The microprocessor performs an item selecting operation on the menu according to the switching signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A menu control device for controlling a menu shown on an electronic device, the menu control device comprising:
 a casing; and 
 a roller module installed in the casing, wherein the roller module comprises:
 a base; 
 at least one elastic supporting arm connected with the base; 
 at least one scroll wheel, wherein a rotation shaft of each scroll wheel is pivotally coupled to the corresponding elastic supporting arm, wherein a portion of each scroll wheel is exposed outside the casing, and each scroll wheel is rotated in response to an external pushing force; 
 at least one encoder located beside the corresponding scroll wheel, wherein each encoder generates an encoding signal when the corresponding scroll wheel is rotated; 
 at least one switch element located under the corresponding elastic supporting arm, wherein when an external pressing force is applied to one of the at least one scroll wheel and the corresponding elastic supporting arm is swung toward the corresponding switch element, the corresponding switch element is triggered by the corresponding elastic supporting arm, and a switching signal is generated by the corresponding switch element; 
 a microprocessor electrically connected with the at least one encoder and the at least one switch element, wherein the microprocessor performs an item browsing operation on the menu according to the encoding signal, and the microprocessor performs an item selecting operation on the menu according to the switching signal; and 
 at least one illumination module, and each of the at least one illumination module is located beside the corresponding switch element and electrically connected with the microprocessor, wherein when the microprocessor performs the item selecting operation on the menu according to the switching signal, the microprocessor controls the corresponding illumination module to emit a light beam. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The menu control device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one elastic supporting arm comprises:
 a connecting part connected with the base; 
 a pivotal part having a pivotal hole, wherein the rotation shaft of the corresponding scroll wheel is penetrated through the pivotal hole and pivotally coupled to the pivotal part; and 
 a triggering part connected between the connecting part and the pivotal part, and aligned with the corresponding switch element, wherein when one of the at least one elastic supporting arm is swung toward the corresponding switch element, the corresponding switch element is triggered by the triggering part of the elastic supporting arm. 
 
     
     
       3. The menu control device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one switch element comprises a first lateral side and a second lateral side, which are opposed to each other, wherein the first lateral side of the switch element is away from the rotation shaft of the corresponding scroll wheel, and the second lateral side of the switch element is close to the rotation shaft of the corresponding scroll wheel, wherein there is a gap between the second lateral side of the switch element and the rotation shaft of the corresponding scroll wheel. 
     
     
       4. The menu control device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one illumination module comprises:
 a light-guiding post penetrated through the base, wherein a portion of the light-guiding post is exposed outside the casing; 
 a light-transmissible cover installed on the casing, wherein the portion of the light-guiding post exposed outside the casing is covered by the light-transmissible cover; and 
 a light-emitting element electrically connected with the microprocessor, wherein the light-guiding post is arranged between the light-emitting element and the light-transmissible cover, wherein when the microprocessor performs the item selecting operation on the menu according to the switching signal, the microprocessor controls the light-emitting element of the corresponding illumination module to emit the light beam, and the light beam is transferred to the light-transmissible cover through the light-guiding post. 
 
     
     
       5. The menu control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elastic supporting arm comprises plural elastic supporting arms, the at least one scroll wheel comprises plural scroll wheels, the at least one encoder comprises plural encoders, the at least one switch element comprises plural switch elements, and the at least one illumination module comprises plural illumination modules, wherein the plural elastic supporting arms are connected with the base and sequentially arranged on the base, each of the plural scroll wheels is pivotally coupled to the corresponding elastic supporting arm through the corresponding rotation shaft, the plural switch elements are respectively located under the corresponding elastic supporting arms, and the plural illumination modules are respectively located beside the corresponding switch elements. 
     
     
       6. The menu control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the roller module further comprises a circuit board, and the circuit board and the base are assembled with each other, wherein the microprocessor, the at least one encoder, the at least one switch element and the at least one illumination module are installed on the circuit board, and the at least one encoder, the at least one switch element and the at least one illumination module are electrically connected with the microprocessor through the circuit board. 
     
     
       7. The menu control device according to  claim 6 , wherein the roller module further comprises at least one fastening element, and the base is assembled with the circuit board through the at least one fastening element.